(Lebanon, Ill., Jan. 13) --The McKendree University men's volleyball team picked up its first win of the season Friday afternoon in Provo, UT after a 3-2 decision over Concordia University-Irvine. The Bearcats won by scores of 19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 22-25, and 15-13.

The Bearcats improve to 1-5 overall on the season and wrap up weekend action Saturday at 7 p.m. MT with a rematch against No. 4 Brigham Young University.

McKendree was paced by senior opposite Maalik Walker (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) and junior outside hitter Nolan Rueter (Burlington, WI/Burlington) who combined for 46 kills. Walker added nine digs and a team high five blocks while Rueter tallied a double-double with 13 digs. Senior middle blocker Michael Polizzi (St. Louis, MO/DeSmet Jesuit) added 10 kills while hitting .600 to go with a pair of blocks. Senior middle hitter Wyatt Patterson (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) contributed eight kills to go with four blocks.

Junior setter Pasquale Fiduccia (Hanover Park, IL/Glenbard North) handed out a career best 68 assists to go with nine digs. Senior outside hitter Dustin Borenstein (Highland Park, IL/Highland Park) added seven kills, eight digs, and four blocks and sophomore libero Zach Thompson (Defiance, MO/Francis Howell) stuck six digs from the back row for the Bearcats.

Rueter and Walker connected on back to back kills to spark a 3-0 run and give McKendree an early 7-6 lead in the first set. The Eagles responded with a pair 3-0 runs to go in front 16-12. Rueter, Walker, and Patterson each landed kills as the score shifted to 20-17 in favor of Concordia-Irvine and the Eagles outscored the Bearcats 5-2 down the stretch to take a 1-0 lead.

Walker and Rueter put down two kills apiece to open the second set as McKendree jumped ahead 8-5. A 5-1 run from Concordia-Irvine flipped the script and give the Eagles a 10-9 advantage. The Bearcats wouldn't be outdone replying with four straight points that featured a kill from Walker and an ace from Rueter to put McKendree in front 13-10. Patterson and Borenstein added a kill each as part of a 3-0 run to extend the lead to 18-13 before back to back kills from Rueter pushed the lead to 22-15 as the Bearcats cruised to a set two win.

The Eagles used four straight kills in the third to take an 8-5 lead. Walker brought McKendree back accounting for four kills as the Bearcats rallied to tie the set at 14. The score remained tied at 18 all before back to back kills from Polizzi and Patterson moved McKendree in front 20-18 and the Bearcats closed the set on a 3-1 run to take a 2-1 lead.

Concordia-Irvine rallied to tie the match in the fourth set before opening the deciding fifth set with a 5-3 lead. Polizzi and Walker bookended a 3-0 run with a kill each as McKendree took a 6-5 lead before a kill and an ace from Walker moved the Bearcats ahead 8-6. The Eagles bounced back with a 5-1 run to go ahead 11-9, but McKendree replied back to back kills from Rueter and Polizzi to tie the set at 11 in the race to 15. Concordia-Irvine took two on the next three points to move the score 13-12 in favor of the Eagles, but McKendree came roaring back with a 3-0 run that started with a kill from Rueter and closed with a block from Walker to earn the win.